Willie Knapp

Willie Knapp
Willie Knapp
Occupation	Jockey/Trainer
Born	August 21, 1888; Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died	October 26, 1972; New Hyde Park, New York, United States
Career wins	649
Major racing wins
	Jockey wins:; Toronto Cup Stakes (1895, 1898); Municipal Handicap (1905, 1906, 1907); Ocean Handicap (1905); Reapers Stakes (1905); Advance Stakes (1906); Astoria Stakes (1906, 1919); Brighton Derby (1907); Brighton Mile (1907); Flight Stakes (1907); Matron Stakes (1907); Santa Anita Handicap (Ascot Park) (1907); Spinaway Stakes (1907); Twin City Handicap (1907; Connaught Cup Stakes (1913); Brooklyn Handicap (1917); Empire City Handicap (1917); Great American Stakes (1917, 1919); Saratoga Special Stakes (1917); Keene Memorial Stakes (1918); Manhattan Handicap (1918); Travers Stakes (1918); Demoiselle Stakes (1919); Dwyer Stakes (1919); Empire City Derby (1919); Huron Handicap (1919); Lawrence Realization Stakes (1919); Sanford Memorial Stakes (1919); Saratoga Special Stakes (1919) American Classic Race wins:; Kentucky Derby (1918) Trainer wins:; Merchants and Citizens Handicap; (1921, 1926); Saratoga Cup (1921); Florida Derby (1929); Arlington Lassie Stakes (1930); Havre de Grace Cup Handicap (1931); Queens County Handicap (1949, 1950); Monmouth Handicap (1949); Westchester Handicap (1949); McLennan Handicap (1950)
Honours
	United States' Racing Hall of Fame (1969)
Significant horses
	Exterminator, Purchase, Sun Briar,; Three Rings, Upset

William J. "Willie" Knapp (August 21, 1888 – October 26, 1972) was an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey.[1] He was known for racing horses such as Exterminator and Sun Briar. He became the jockey for Exterminator in the 1918 Kentucky Derby. He was expecting to race Sun Briar, an extremely fast colt, but Sun Briar became ill and he had no choice but to race Exterminator, Sun Briar's training horse. However, Exterminator won the Derby and Knapp became his lifelong jockey.[2]

Knapp is also well remembered as the jockey aboard the aptly named Upset on August 13, 1919 when he handed the legendary Man o' War his only defeat in the Sanford Memorial Stakes.[3]

On September 27, 1914 Knapp married Elizabeth Blute, the daughter of trainer James Blute who was the 1907 United States Co-Champion Thoroughbred Trainer by wins tying with James G. Rowe Sr. and Frank Hanlon.[4]

Willie Knapp died at age 84 on October 26, 1972 at the Long Island Jewish Hospital in New Hyde Park, New York.[5]

References

National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
"Willie Knapp, 84; Once Star Jockey". New York Times, page 44. 1972-10-27. Retrieved 2020-03-21.
"Saratoga's Upset of the Century". America's Best Racing (TJC Media Ventures). 2016-07-27. Retrieved 2018-10-20.
"Notes of the Turf". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1914-10-01. Retrieved 2019-05-10.
"Willie Knapp 84, Ex-Jockey Dies". New York Daily News page 53. 1972-10-27. Retrieved 2018-10-20.

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[1] National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame

[2] "Willie Knapp, 84; Once Star Jockey". New York Times, page 44. 1972-10-27. Retrieved 2020-03-21.

[3] "Saratoga's Upset of the Century". America's Best Racing (TJC Media Ventures). 2016-07-27. Retrieved 2018-10-20.

[4] "Notes of the Turf". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1914-10-01. Retrieved 2019-05-10.

[5] "Willie Knapp 84, Ex-Jockey Dies". New York Daily News page 53. 1972-10-27. Retrieved 2018-10-20.